Friday, December 18, 2009

Summary: Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

NOTE:This is my second group review for Blog That Bites. Read the other reviews and discussion questions here.

I've been following Chloe Neill's blog for a little while now, but I hadn't been able to pick up her first book until last week. I knew it would be witty and entertaining, but I didn't expect it to be thought provoking. I'm not sure if the cover mislead me, or if it was something I may have read about the book along the way. Some Girls Bite IS witty, but it also has elements involving friendship, loyalty, family, love and desire. We meet the characters, make a few guesses and then find out we are SO wrong. I laughed a lot, but my heart also broke for Merit, and I was on the edge of my seat as her decisions were made. The author made her characters come alive for me.

Merit is her own person because she's had to fight against family expectations her entire life. Her grandfather, a retired cop, and her roommate are really her only emotional support. Her life is turned upside down, and shaken up like a chocolate malt, but without the malted goodness. Suddenly she's got vamps who want her body, her loyalty and her frig is stocked with bags of blood. She's not having a good time, and the surprises just keep coming.

I highly recommend Some Girls Bite for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I can't wait to read the second book Friday Night Bites and see what happens to Merit and her friends next. (Note: I finished Friday Night Bites and reviewed it here.)

BLOG WITH BITEDISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Warning: Some spoilers in the discussion questions!1.Obviously the issues of social status and class are used in this story, do you feel Merit is above the simplistic ideology in this book, or is she the typical character: shuns away from the idea of being better than others but loves her status, in both the vampire and human worlds?

I don't think she's typical at all. She doesn't love her "status" in either world. Merit fought against her family's attitude and social status, wanting to live her own life, not believing that they were better than others. As far as the vampire world, she didn't want that either. She wasn't given a choice. When she is given responsibility as she joins her house, she reluctantly does what she is asked, or really told, to do because she wants to do what is right.

2.What motivations do you believe pushed Amber to behave the way she did? Her cattiness seemed rather shallow, but could it only be cattiness that had her acting the way she did in the end?

I'm not sure she was shallow as much as she was convincing. In order for her to fool Ethan she had to appear shallow and completely obsessed with him. It was important that he saw her as loyal to him above all else and jealous of anyone that might take his attention away from her. Celina had convinced her that she would have a future with her house once her plan worked. I'm sure she believed she would be part of the leadership in this new "society".

3. Do you see a House of her own in Merit's future? No, I really don't. She wouldn't want that kind of responsibility. It would mean she would have to deal with the politics of society. She had enough of that growing up in her family's home. I think she will always protect Ethan, regardless of what happens in their relationship.

4.Which vamp are you hoping Merit ends up with?

I'm not sure, but there is a part of me that thinks she would be good for Ethan. She would bring out his "humanity". Then of course there is the fact that he is hotter than hot. Whew.